Hylas and the Nymphs

- by John William Waterhouse (1896)

Hylas was Hercules' page. They both went into the forest (life) to find wood for a new oar. While Hercules busied himself cutting down a suitable tree, Hylas wandered off on his own. Here we see the end of him. The Water Nymphs are overcome by his beauty. They pull him down to live in their realm and the young lad will never be seen again.

Hercules was distraught at the loss of his friend. He almost endangered himself and all the others waiting for his return. In Gurdjieff’s Meetings with Remarkable Men, we see the same story.One by one his friends fell and he was left to return home alone.

Watch out for the Nymphs, Dryads, etc.